Strong Growth in Energy Related Applications to Drive the Global Methanol Market, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

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GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Methanol markets. Global market for Methanol is forecast to reach 109.8 million tons by 2020, driven by strong growth in energy related application markets, increased availability of natural gas, improving production plant efficiencies, and favorable pricing scenario, among others.

Methanol: A Global Strategic Business Report

San Jose, California (PRWEB)September 15, 2014

Follow us on LinkedIn – Methanol is a versatile industrial chemical that finds use in the production of a broad range of derivatives including formaldehyde, acetic acid, methyl methacrylate (MMA), methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), dimethyl ether (DME), gasoline, MTO/MTP (Methanol-to-Olefin/Methanol-to-Propylene) and biodiesel, which are further used in a variety of consumer and industrial products. Methanol demand is poised to witness healthy growth in the coming years, driven by the increased availability of the feedstock natural gas, improving production plant efficiencies, and favorable pricing scenario. While conversion into formaldehyde constitutes the largest end-use market for methanol, energy sector represents the most promising end-use market going forward. Dimethyl ether (DME), biodiesel, methanol-to-olefins (MTO) and direct blending into fuels for transportation industry constitute the major energy-based applications of the chemical.

Methanol offers huge promise for use as fuel in fuel cells, particularly for use in backup and portable systems for telecom networks, smaller electric vehicles, and material handling vehicles. However, overcapacity, high operational costs, and frequent shortfalls or disruptions in production inputs such as feedstock and power, represent key challenges for the global methanol market.

Methanol production has been steadily surging ahead with Asia and South America presently dominating global production. In the near term, producers are expected to locate new production projects closer to consumer bases in order to take advantage of fluctuations in feedstock prices and curb transportation costs. Present research is focused on developing technologies for producing green methanol from carbon dioxide recycling on an industrial scale. Further, claims of adverse effects of first generation biofuels production, including deforestation and food-versus-fuel argument, have resulted in a shift of focus towards less contentious, more sustainable, biofuels such as bio-methanol produced from biogas, biomass and carbon dioxide. However, high production costs are restraining growth in bio-methanol costs. High natural gas prices and reductions in subsidies for fossil fuels are expected to reduce the cost of bio-methanol production in future.

As stated by the new market research report on Methanol, Asia-Pacific represents the largest market, worldwide. Strong growth is expected from China, driven by the adoption of provincial standards that have been supporting methanol fuel blending in the country. China also represents the largest methanol producing nation worldwide and continues to rapidly develop methanol capacity, specifically for energy applications including olefins and gasoline.

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes 1500+ full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world's largest and reputed market research firms.